I wasn’t going to do a birthday video for Lincoln because of his speech delay. He’s very hard to understand – even his siblings and I have trouble with his language on a daily basis and we “speak Lincoln”. He also doesn’t have words for a lot of things he might want to say, and I didn’t want him to get frustrated and have a break down because he couldn’t communicate. I didn’t want to make him cry just so I could have a video of him answering questions.

But Linc has made HUGE progress with his speech, thanks to months of Birth to Three services and our amazing therapist Jill. He’s had his hearing checked (perfect), a physical (nothing wrong), and he’s been accepted into the early pre school program this fall so he can continue getting direct speech services as well as work on some of his sensory stuff and be ready for regular pre school when he’s 4. I know that in the next 12 months he’s going to grow and improve SO MUCH and eventually I’m going to miss the days when every new word was a celebration and hearing him say “happy burse day” makes me jump for joy.

So we made the video. I shortened my list of questions a little, he asked to have Evan sit with him, and I did a lot of translating. You probably won’t understand what he’s saying. But turning three is a big deal and milestone that we won’t let a speech delay stop us from documenting.

So, I’m not actually sure how this happened. I was totally fine with Lincoln being 10 months old. I love 10 months. 10 month olds are still babies, but they’re interactive babies who can express love and make you realize that all your hard work is totally worth it because you’re keeping this tiny baby alive.

But 11 MONTHS is basically a toddler. I didn’t ask for a toddler. He insists on toddling almost all the time now. He toddles even in PUBLIC, which means it’s only a matter of time before he isn’t on board with all my babywearing. Don’t tell him that’s an option though, he has no idea.

At 11 months old, Linc likes to take 2 naps a day – one short one in my lap/in the car/wrapped in the morning and one long one in his crib in the afternoon. Because he has two siblings who hve schedules and friends and plans those naps don’t always happen when and where he would like. Maybe 2 days out of 7 he gets his ideal naps. Most of the time a few short naps or an extra car nap will hold him over until he can just hang out on the couch with me and relax. And by relax I mean nurse, because he has suddenly decided that is his favorite thing in the whole world. I was starting to maybe sort of kind of think about trying to night wean him right around his first birthday, but I’m pretty sure that would be too much of a nightmare for all of us. I want to get MORE sleep, not less.

At his 9 month check-up (which happened at about 10 1/2 months), Linc was 22 lbs 3 oz, 29 inches tall and his head is 48.8 cm around. I bought him a pair of real shoes finally, in a size 5.5 (he hates them, but they fit). He’s wearing mostly 12-18 month clothes, although really his drawers have stuff from 9 months – 24 months and most of it fits…fine? Baby clothes are weird.

Likes include mama, daddy, anyone who smiles at him, screeching, waving his arms, shouting, grabbing things, flinging himself backwards, walking, climbing, the cat, the dog, music, tickles, the water, being worn, necklaces, pulling my hair, brother, sissy, yogurt raisins, Cheerios, and eating things off the floor.

Dislikes include the shower, being tired, the word NO, and not getting exactly what he wants immediately.

^^^^DO YOU SEE THIS? He’s trying to climb out of the crib. Good thing he hardly ever sleeps in it.

11 Month Milestones (from Caroline’s 11 month post, please also see Evan’s 11 month post here)

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
Says “mama” or “dada” to the correct parent – E still thinks he says Dada. Mostly he says “Do!” to the dog or “Dat!” for “That!” when he points. Still no mama.
Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo – Pretty good at peek-a-boo with a blanket
Stands alone for a couple of seconds – Walks.
Cruises – Walks.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
Understands “no” and simple instructions – Understands no, does not obey no.
Puts objects into a container – Yyyyyyyyyes? Not when I TELL him to, but he can.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Says one word besides “mama” or “dada” – Do and Dat, if those count.
Stoops from standing position – Walks. Squats. Leans. Climbs.

Linc is currently chewing on an orange peel, banging a wooden spatula on the ground and trying to break into the TV cabinet – I assume because he objects to watching Tinker Bell and the Neverbeast for the 7th time this week. He is also wearing pants that are too big and a shirt that is too small. Poor, poor third child. It doesn’t seem to be bothering him at all though. He really likes wooden spoons and goldfish crackers eaten off the rug. He sometimes intentionally drops his food on the floor before eating it, just to make sure it has that nice dirty flavor.

We have become a super good babywearing team and it makes both of our lives a lot easier. He’s used to being on my back so he waits patiently while I get him up there and I’m getting way better at wrapping so it’s very comfortable and secure. It’s truly a lifesaver at home so I can clean or at the store when I don’t want him lunging out of the cart. He still gets to smiling and flirt with everyone but he is 100% less likely to fall on his head. Plus all these pretty wraps I have are getting used! Although now that it’s 90 degrees on the regular I would rather not wear him ALL the time

Lincoln is going to spend most of the summer giving me a heart attack while he tries to injure himself. I had to move the kid-sized chair upstairs because he wouldn’t stop falling over the back of it, and when I put it next to the couch so it wouldn’t tip he used it to climb onto the couch and try to throw himself off of that. He won’t stay out of the water at the lake, even though it’s freezing cold. He can walk but mostly chooses to scoot, which means his poor leg and foot is always scraped and he gets splinters. His favorite hobby is climbing on top of people and pulling their hair, which means one of these days someone is going to accidentally fling him across the room. But I doubt even that will slow him down.

He wears 12 month clothes but still only size 5 shoes. He will keep a hat on his head for a full hour but then pulls it off. He hates socks.

Likes include mommy, daddy, brother, sister, the dog, the cat, water, sand, dirt, cookies, messes, being carried, being worn, nursies, climbing, his blankie, naps, crawling, swinging, eating inappropriate objects, biting stuff, and smiling.

Dislikes include teething, diaper rash, and anytime he is not physically touching me.

And this one was to get my (terrible) white balance and it shows just how red his hair really is in the light:

10 Month Milestones (From Caroline’s 10 month post)

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
Waves goodbye – Sort of. He can wave but he doesn’t care to much. He likes pointing a lot more.
Picks things up with pincer grasp – Yes, especially if it’s teeny tiny things he definitely should not be eating.
Crawls well, with belly off the ground – No. He crawls on one leg and his hands like a monkey or a crab or some other weird animal. I will try to take a video if I can get him further than 6 inches away from me.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
Says “mama” or “dada” to the correct parent – He’s starting to get the hang of it, but he mostly says “Dat!” meaning “What is dat?” or “I want dat!”
Indicates wants with gestures – Pointing, handwaving and screeching are his day job.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Stands alone for a couple of seconds – Stands alone all the time.
Puts objects into a container – Sure, as long as it’s little stuff into a big container. He’s not doing shape sorters or anything.

I asked my mom friends last week if they thought I should be concerned about Linc not rolling over or bearing weight on his legs yet. They told me no, of course not, all babies are different and they develop at different rates, I’m sure he’ll roll over soon, their baby never rolled over and now look at her walking! That’s basically the Lord’s Prayer of parenting – I can recite it from memory but don’t often pay attention to what the words actually mean. It’s comfortingly familiar though, to hear it from people I know and trust.

Right after that Linc decided his new favorite thing is bearing weight on his legs, so at least half of my worrying was for nothing. I’m pretty sure one of these days I’m going to set him on the floor, leave the room, and come back in to find he’s just gotten up and walked away.

I’m a few days late with this update, not because I forgot it but because I didn’t want to even LOOK at the 5 month sticker a single second earlier than I had to. I cannot believe it’s already been 5 months with Lincoln here in our lives. He’s the first baby where I haven’t felt any desire for time to go faster. I am trying to stay completely focused on enjoying him right now, as he is, and not rushing anything.

It helps that he sleeps. I would be praying him to get bigger and older and thinking about night weaning and freaking out over how exhausted I was if he wasn’t already letting me sleep 7 hours a night. Best baby in the world. Or at least right now, since he’s taking a nice extended afternoon nap.

Likes include smiling, snuggles, people, singing, talking about cooking shows, being held, standing, bath time, chewing on things, his feet, my feet, mirrors, nursing, watching people eat, having his picture taken, the swing, the rock-n-play, his brother, his sister and the cat.

Dislikes include loud noises too close to his face, missing nap time, teething and having boogers removed from his nose/face in any way.

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5 Month Milestones (originally from BabyCenter, now from Caroline’s 5 month post)

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
Distinguishes between bold colors – Yeah, sure. How the hell am I supposed to know?
Plays with his hands and feet – Yes, with cartoon-baby-levels of cuteness.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
Recognizes own name – He did this very clearly yesterday and I was like BOOM! MILESTONE MOMENT!!
Turns toward new sounds – Yes, he’s very nosy.
Rolls over in both directions – Still no rolling. In either direction. He doesn’t even look like he wants to.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Sits momentarily without support – Yes. He’s going to be sitting independently way before he’s rolling.
Mouths objects – Nomming is his favorite hobby
Separation anxiety may begin – A little. He doesn’t like it when everyone leaves the room, but he doesn’t mind new people or strangers.

TWO TEETH. TWOOOOOOO TEEEEEEEEETH. That is basically all I have to say about my baby this month. All our interactions involve his teething. Worrying about him, because teeth. Holding him, because teeth. Medicating him, because teeth. Gritting my teeth during nursing, because OMG TEETH.

I shouldn’t complain too much. He is awake slightly more often than he was before teeth. He has had a few hysterical screaming fits because they were bothering him, but it’s not a daily thing. He still sleeps either through the night or in nice big chunks of time after some 2 am comfort nursing. He still gets an A+ in general babying, but could definitely work on the whole “not getting any more teeth for a while” thing.

In other milestone news…I have no news. He still isn’t mobile in any way. No rolling, no scootching, no sitting up. Now that he’s big enough for the exersaucer (aka Circle of Neglect) he barely even tries to roll anymore. He can see us all just fine AND he can whack at shiny things. Win-win! As much as I would like a super advanced baby to brag about on the internet, it is very nice to have a happy lump who can still sleep in his rock-n-play without worrying he will climb out. Poor third child.

Likes: the dog, the cat, the tv, things that makes noise, singing, humming, being carried, being worn, sleeping, sleeping on people, smiling, diaper changes, pooping, Baby Orajel, his brother, his sister, his feet, cuddles, friends, water, the exersaucer, the playmat, the floor, biting things, having his picture taken, nursing, poking me in the eye

Dislikes: Baby Tylenol, sore gums, constipation, tummy time, pacifiers, when no one is looking at him

4 Month Milestones (Originally from BabyCenter, via Caroline’s 4 month post)

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
Smiles, laughs – Is at level 11 on the 1-10 happiness scale
Can bear weight on legs – Moooooostly? He isn’t as interested in practicing as the other two kids were
Coos when you talk to him – Talks, coos, babbles, is generally adorable.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
Can grasp a toy – He can even get them into his mouth
Rolls over, from tummy to back – FINE, BabyCenter, maybe I’ll let him at least TRY.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Imitates sounds: “baba,” “dada” – He’s trying, but nothing like dada yet.
Cuts first tooth – TWO. TEETH.
May be ready for solid foods – Maybe. Who knows. I’ll ask at his checkup on Monday but I’m not really in too much of a hurry.